Animal abusers now need to register like sex offenders in some states

A new law is growing in popularity across the country to protect dogs, cats and other pets. Several United States jurisdictions have implemented an animal offenders registry, which is similar to how sex offenders are registered, and will publicly reveal the names of known animal abusers in the area.

The information a person will learn upon seeking out the registry is the name, date of birth, offense, conviction date and expiration date of all know abusers. First-time abusers' names will stay on the list for two years and an additional five years will be added to their expiration date for every subsequent offense after the original.

"We know there is a very strong correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence," Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper, the bill's sponsor, told Shared. "Almost every serial killer starts out by torturing animals, so in a strange sense we could end up protecting the lives of people."

Those who are convicted abusers will have to pay a $50 registration fine and, if they're 18 or older, they must also supply a recent photo and any aliases they go by for the registry. And if an abuser doesn't register themselves, they could face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.

If you suspect someone is abusing animals or selling animals illegally, The Humane Society of the United States recommends you call your local animal control agency as soon as possible or dial 911 if you're unfamiliar with local organizations. If you make a report of alleged animal cruelty, the responding agency is required to investigate.

A new law is growing in popularity across the country to protect dogs, cats and other pets. Several United States jurisdictions have implemented an animal offenders registry, which is similar to how sex offenders are registered, and will publicly reveal the names of known animal abusers in the area.